The Málaga Fair and Congress Centre is hosting the first edition of Andalucía Play Fest from this Friday, which includes the Iris Games Awards, Guadalindie, and RetroPixel. The event features 288 nominations from 16 countries and includes an exhibition area, networking, and conferences.
The Málaga Fair and Congress Centre (Fycma) has become the national epicentre of video games since this Friday with the celebration of the first edition of Andalucía Play Fest. The event merges three key gatherings in the sector: the Iris Games Awards, the developers' meeting Guadalindie, and the retro fair RetroPixel Málaga. In total, 288 nominations have been submitted from 16 countries, a record participation that reflects the growth of the industry in the region.
A space for professionals and enthusiasts
Over three days, the venue offers a large shared exhibition area, demo spaces to try out video games, a professional networking area, and a programme of specialised conferences. The councillor for Innovation, Digitalisation, and Investment Attraction of the Málaga City Council, Alicia Izquierdo, has highlighted "the importance of this initiative to strengthen Málaga's positioning as one of the main hubs for digital content and this industry in Spain."
The president of Altair and spokesperson for RetroPixel, Francisco Javier González, and the director of Guadalindie, Raúl López, have agreed that the union of the three events "multiplies the business opportunities and visibility" for local studios. The professional day is concentrated this Friday, with spaces for knowledge exchange and the identification of new projects.
Iris Games Awards: gala with record attendance
The first day culminates in the afternoon with the second edition of the Iris Games Awards, a national competition that recognises talent and innovation in video game development. The gala, which increases its capacity to 900 people, will be hosted by Maya Pixelskaya and Rodrigo Vázquez. Among the 36 selected finalists, several Málaga studios stand out: Moventure from Pixelatto competes in the Best Accessible Video Game category; Rock Invasion VR from Master Crowd Games in Best TECH/XR Video Game; and Astro Prospector from Incrementalist and Injection p23 'Tabula Rasa' from Abramelin Games are vying for Best Video Game Andalucía.
The jury has evaluated "the quality, innovation, creative proposal, and contribution to the development of the industry" of the projects. In the Best PC/Console Video Game category, titles such as Crisol: Theater of Idols (Madrid) and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound (Sevilla) are competing. In the international category, studios from Germany, Pakistan, Estonia, and the United Kingdom are participating.
Málaga, a hub for digital content
Andalucía Play Fest not only attracts professionals from across the country but also consolidates Málaga as a hub for the video game industry. For the local visitor, the event represents a unique opportunity to try out dozens of unreleased titles, meet developers, and attend conferences on industry trends. The exhibition area will be open to the public over the weekend, with free entry upon prior registration.
The Málaga City Council has emphasised that such initiatives "generate qualified employment and attract investment" to the city. In fact, several of the finalist studios are based in the province, demonstrating the local business fabric. The organisation hopes to exceed 5,000 visitors in this first edition, a figure that, if achieved, would make Andalucía Play Fest an unmissable event on the national calendar.
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